The Bluebird-L Reference Guide

Bluebirding for Beginners
For many, bluebirding is more than a hobby, it is a way of life. But even the most seasoned veterans had to start somewhere. Below are links which are designed to inform the novice bluebirder about proper nest box monitoring. Keep in mind, even experienced bluebird monitors make their share of mistakes, so don't be discouraged if you make mistakes—trial and error is a great way to learn!

NABS' Bluebird FAQ's

Recommended Supplies for Nest Box Monitoring

Taken, with permission, from The Bluebird Monitor's Guide
by Cynthia Berger, Keith Kridler, and Jack Griggs

Please note, it is not imperative that you have all the supplies mentioned below, as this list is a compilation of recommended supplies from dozens of nest box monitors.

CLEANING SUPPLIES
Gloves (rubber and/or leather)
Trowel
Spatula or putty knife - for squashing wasps and scraping out debris
Whisk broom
Paintbrush or toothbrush - to get the box really clean!
Plastic or Paper bags - to carry away old nests or dead birds
Spray bottle with dilute bleach solution - to spray on mice nests before removal

DATA COLLECTION
Notebook or data sheets
Pencil or waterproof pen
Binoculars
Maps of box locations
Roll of surveyor’s tape - for marking potential sites for new boxes
Stepladder if needed
Bondo spatula or pancake turner - for pulling nests out of a box
Mechanic’s mirror - to help you see inside boxes
Magnifying glass - to help you read numbers on banded birds
Camera

NEST BOX MAINTENANCE
Screwdriver and screws
Hammer and nails
Pliers
Cordless drill and drill bits
Wire cutters and wire
Weather stripping - to seal box vents in cold weather
Duct tape - for emergency weather stripping or door hinge
Extra box-mounting clamps
Vise grips
Spare nest boxes or box parts
Pocketknife or multipurpose tool
Sandpaper
Pruning tool or handsaw - for cutting back vegetation around mounting posts
Carpenter's apron to hold everything!

PERSONAL ITEMS
Sun hat
Snack
Drinking water
Sunscreen
Insect repellent
Baby wipes - for quick hand cleaning
Paper towels
Cell phone
Spare key to your vehicle

PREDATOR CONTROL
Baffles and hole guards
Hole restrictors |
Tanglefoot - to deter ants
Bar of soap - to deter wasps
In-box sparrow trap
Grease - to deter climbing Predators

RESCUE GEAR
Mealworms - to feed hungry orphaned nestlings
Shoebox or bucket - for carrying orphaned nestlings to new nest
Hot-water bottle - to keep orphaned nestlings warm during transfer
Bag of dry grass - to replace wet or blowfly-infested nests
Name and phone number of your local bird rehabilitator

HOME

Contact us at:

The Birdhouse Network (TBN)
159 Sapsucker Woods Road
Ithaca, NY 14850
http://birds.cornell.edu/birdhouse/
1-800-843-BIRD

The North American Bluebird Society (NABS
The Wilderness Center
P.O. Box 244
Wilmot, OH 44689-0244
http://nabluebirdsociety.org
330-359-5511